And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
We find here:
- What is a Baptist conviction
- What has not been the practice of other faiths and
- What is a constant struggle to maintain personally
It is the doctrine of individual soul liberty
We are not to judge those who reject the truth of God’s Word.
Consider the history of pagan religion, Catholicism, and then the Protestants. Theirs is a history of intolerance of any who would practice in ways other than theirs. Baptists have been the target of much of their persecution.
- Baptists did not attend their services
- Baptists would not accept their baptism
The thing that made them the angriest is that
- Baptists would not be silent with the gospel.
Some, Martin Luther, for instance, would have been content to leave the Baptists alone if only the Baptists would be content to keep their faith to themselves. However, Baptists could not be silent about what they believed to be Bible truth. Preaching the Word of God to someone who does not believe the Word of God is not equal to judging them.
Baptists[1] accept that those who receive the Word of God have the right not to believe it without our condemnation of them.
There is a caveat.
Though we must not judge those who do not believe, the Bible says they will be judged.
Oh, you, who refuse to believe us.
We long to love you and remain friends with you. But we must warn you; you are not free from judgment. There is one who is Judge.
- Before Him you will stand
- Before Him you will kneel and
- Before Him you will one day confess that Jesus Christ is Lord
[1] Though I admit many Baptists struggle with this doctrine today. I believe that is because we have too much Protestantism mixed into our churches.
To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.
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